A severe blaze which broke out on the Llandow Trading Estate near Cowbridge could continue to burn for several days say firefighters.

Huge plumes of black smoke were seen rising from buildings owned by Siteserve, a recycling company which also suffered two major fires in 2013, on Sunday afternoon.

Firefighters say they have no idea how it started but say it will remain hazardous for days.

Llandow fire (Image: Tom Hill)

Station Manager Mark Watt said: "The fire is still burning.

"There is currently no idea how it started but I can guarantee because it is a recycling plant there would have been batteries from things like phones and laptops there.

"If they crack or compress and the temperature in the building rises it could pose a potential fire hazard.

"There is no idea how long we will be here until yet. It could be days.

"There's a lot of rubbish inside to get overturned and over-soaked.

Smoke can be seen from miles around (Image: Gareth Williams)

"At the height of the fire we had six appliances, four water bowsers, a hydraulic platform and several other special appliances. Now we are down to just four fire engines, two water bousers, an aerial appliance and two others."

At the height of the blaze there were ten fire engines and 50 fire fighters battling the blaze and three crews remained this morning.

The Civic Amenity Centre on the site has been closed indefinitely.

PC Blatchford who is currently on the scene directing people away from the centre said: "The civic amenity centre has been shut as a precaution due to the smoke and possible asbestos that is coming from the fire.

"People are being advised to go to other centres in Barry or Bryncethin. There's no idea yet as to when it will reopen."

Residents in the area are also being asked to keep their doors and windows shut as a precautionary measure.

A fire engine at the scene

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said six fire engines and specialist appliances, including water bowsers and hydraulic platforms, were initially called to the blaze shortly before 4pm.

The fire is in two single-storey buildings containing recycling materials and the entire building was engulfed in flames.

A spokesman for the fire service said crews, police and fire investigators would remain at the scene on the Bank Holiday and local businesses and home owners should expect a small amount of disruption.

The fire seen from Bridgend

On Sunday night, people were prevented from getting on to the trading estate by a police officer and security guard.

Local residents who gathered at the scene expressed their disbelief that it was another fire at the same business.

Sharon and Tony Evans are owners of Llandow Caravan Park which is near to the trading estate and currently under the thick plume of smoke.

Sharon said: "We were on standby to be evacuated and the fire service said they would let us know. We are still monitoring the situation.

"We feel fairly confident that it will be all right. We were just going home because it had died down but we came back because it flared up again."

Huge plumes of smoke from the fire at Llandow Trading Estate

The caravan park is currently full with around 400 people staying on site for the bank holiday weekend.

Sharon and Tony also manage Llandow Racing Circuit. Sharon was in the circuit's control tower at 4pm when she noticed smoke rising from the trading estate and called the fire service.

She said the cafe at the race circuit had to close early as the water supplies had turned off.

Sharon said she believed the current fire is in the same building in which the first fire occurred in November 2013.

She added: "I am concerned about what is in the smoke. My daughter-in-law is taking my grandson, who is six months old, to a relative in Pencoed out of the way.